ANN ARBOR, Mich. (KMVT/KSVT) — On Dec. 13, Gooding graduate and Michigan tight end Colston Loveland made it official and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
KMVT spoke with Loveland about his decision to forgo his senior season with the Wolverines.
“It’s just a blessing. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life,” Loveland said. “I just have to keep working and get drafted as high as possible.”
It was a tough decision for Loveland to leave Ann Arbor, but after three stellar seasons with the Wolverines including a 2024 national championship along with conversations with his family, he knew he was ready to go through the draft process.
Going to the NFL, let alone playing Division I football, is not common in the Gem State. Loveland said he was for his upbringing and the warmth of the Idaho community.
“I was one of those kids you know. I’ve been in their shoes and I’m here for it. The community is crazy, you can feel the love from just Idaho as a state,” Loveland explained to KMVT. “I owe it all back to Gooding and Idaho and all these kids and hope they can all have an opportunity to go and chase their goals.”
Throughout his career, he caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He was a finalist for the Jon Mackey Award, which recognizes the most outstanding tight end in the country.
Along with a national championship and being an award finalist, his honors at Michigan include being a two-time All-Big Ten selection (first team, coach, 2023; second team media, 2023-24; second team coach, 2024), an Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2024) and Offensive and Co-Special Teams Rookie of the Year (2022).
An impressive football player but Loveland will miss the relationships he created the most.
“All the people I met at the facilities and at school,” Loveland said. “It will be different not being around these coaches and staff all the time, but I will have those relationships for life.”
Growing up as a child, legendary NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski was someone Loveland admired. He also noted that he likes the play that current New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham has shown.
Now he’s studying guys like Detroit Lions Sam LaPorta.
“I look at his stride in the run game, how he gets into zones and what he does at the top of his routes,” Loveland said.
Loveland was primarily a receiver from his time at Gooding High School so it makes sense that he, along with tight ends, studies film of bigger receivers in the league.
One in particular is a former Wolverine in the Houston Texans Nico Collins.
“Love to see his stride, how he always has his head down and all the little details from him,” Loveland noted.
He will now increase his training as he prepares for the NFL Combine which begins in late February.
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